Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
As we get deeper and deeper into the summer I find it more and more difficult concentrating
on things like newsletter articles, especially this column where I try to convey something
about myself and make a spiritual connection while trying to say something new! It’s why
more often than not the last seven years there has been repetition of summertime columns.
Well, here’s another attempt, rushing the time a bit by thinking of the end of September, early
October…vacation time for me! Hopefully you’ve had yours already or at least a portion of
it! Whatever, let’s talk “heaven!”
Have you ever been to Irish Beach or driven through it? From Placerville it’s about a five
hour drive, located on Highway 1 north of Manchester and south of Elk. You’re familiar with
those two thriving metropolises aren’t you? Or maybe it’s easier to say Irish Beach is eight
miles or so from the lighthouse at Point Arena. Or, you can say its 35 miles south of Fort
Bragg. For the last eight years it has been a respite for me as a place to hang out…originally
for two or three nights and this coming ninth time for 14 days! The longer you stay the more
expensive the vacation; however, where can you go where you can see and hear the ocean
waves, experience mid-60s temperatures, read a half dozen books, share three meals a day
and a bottle of wine or more with friends you’ve known for close to 30 years, and when the
time is up, clean-up means packing your suitcase, putting the sheets in the laundry area and
driving home! And if you remembered to take your camera, there are lots of beautiful pictures to recall your stay!
The home is owned by a retired couple in Sacramento, former state workers, whom I’ve met
once many years ago when they dropped in to replace a heating element in the oven. They
have standard-sized poodles for their hobby. The beach house is rented out for 10 months a
year so it’s cash for them and a home-away-from-home for me.
There is exercise to be done: walking up and down a hillside to the six miles of private beach
whose terrain changes each year with driftwood, sea animals, birds and sand mounds around
an outcropping of rock known as the “Goats Head,” as that is what it resembles from a distance. If the tide is out you can climb it; when the tide is in you’d get pretty wet. Often the
shoreline is littered with sea onions that all of us like to pop! Sometimes you can find abalone shells that have washed ashore. A breeze normally blows across the beach and if you
don’t cover your head or face with a hat or sunscreen you can expect a wind or sun burn,
which for a fairer complexion doesn’t help! You wind up peeling before the time is up and try
to hide the excess skin.
The beach house is not as nice as your own home, though it’s equipped like it’s your home.
It’s a bit rustic; however, I get the master bedroom suite which has its own office and bathroom and privacy from the other family with whom I share the house.

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There is a hot tub, a propane BBQ tied to the house line, TV, satellite dish and Internet access,
but best of all, your cell phone reception is absent until you get closer to town or walk up a hill,
catch your breath and hope no one calls or texts you because you are on vacation! Did I mention the master bedroom has two corner windows that face the ocean, “Goat Head” rock, and
the ocean’s waves! And unfortunately, as of today’s writing, I have two more months before I
get to go to Irish Beach and experience a lot more than what I’ve shared in these few paragraphs! I can’t wait…but I have to wait…someday soon, but not today!
The last picture a camera captured of my wife, Dee, was taken at Irish Beach. This will be my
fifth time there without her. I would never have thought there would be five times of anything
without her! But, she has it better than I can ever imagine. You see, Irish Beach was for us together, and for me yet singly, what heaven is for her and that great cloud of witnesses in our
Lord’s presence, which surrounds us and encourages us to run with endurance the race that is
set before us (Hebrews 12:1). As authors attempt to describe “near death experiences” of their
time in heaven before being returned to earthly life, they strive to put into words what they believe they saw. I have another picture! Heaven!
When we moved to our home in Placerville, we wanted a picture to hang over the living room
mantel. Dee, and our daughter Melanie, spent a Sunday morning after early service worship
scouring the art studios on Main Street to find the perfect picture. They did. It’s what I’d imagine heaven to look like…the painting is called “The Padre’s Vineyard.” It depicts the Carmel
Mission with forested hills in the background and the ocean opposite, with a vineyard centered
in front of the adobe Mission. If you’ve ever been to the Carmel Valley, it’s not on the ocean.
The village of Carmel is on the water front, so the painter combined a few views into one,
which is what my minds-eye does as I gaze at the painting. I think of heaven and its banquet,
feasting on foods matched with wines at the Son’s wedding table, maybe with a few more blue
tones than my painting, but it’s heaven to me, and Irish Beach becomes a replica of sorts that I
can get to and my painting gets me closer when I put myself into the artwork!
What’s your view of heaven? Anything on earth begin to come close? I believe our Lord gives
us glimpses of His home, but just a quick glimpse…nothing here could ever compare to the
glory that will be revealed to us! Yosemite Valley…Carmel by the Sea…Irish Beach…the giant
redwoods…nothing can compare! I believe we need that mystery. The awesome surprise that
awaits us is more than a place…it’s a relationship with our God that will need that overwhelming site of heaven as we soak it all in to our being for an eternity of fantastic views and gorgeous surroundings! Like for a vacation, I can’t wait! How about you?
Yours in Christ’s service,
Pastor Mark Haas, Soli Deo Gloria

Just a Reminder for Altar Guild:
Remove the candles into the wooden holder and fill each candle with the liquid wax. Light each candle to make sure they are all burning at
the same height. Please do not cut wicks to adjust flame, simply push down or pull up gently. Return the candles to the holders and
make sure they are secure and straight.
Fill two(2) communion trays, four (4) on the Sundays when communion is held in both services. Fill all center cups in each tray with the
white grape juice. This amount is subject to change when we grow in membership!!
Keep the filled trays in the refrigerator.
Straighten and fill in the cards as needed and make sure all the pencils are sharp in each pew.
Fill the coffee and water pots. The directions are on the closet door.
All these functions can be done on Friday or Saturday.
On Sunday set out communion prior to service and clean up and put it away after the service.
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Katy’s Corner

Hello!
I pray all of you are having a safe and enjoyable summer whether you have stayed
in town or gone on vacation. I have been busy this past month settling in and getting to know everyone!
I was blessed to help with VBS during the first few days I was here. I was able to
lead the kids in singing and dancing every morning and afternoon. I also had the
opportunity to lead a group for a few days and share the TRUTH of God’s love
with them! ☺
I was invited by some families to share a meal with them at home and get to know
them one-on-one. I hope to be able to do more home visits in the future and get to
know more families better.
I also had a youth event at the end of July to help kick-start the Youth Group. We
had a great time and discussed what we as a group wanted to do. We decided to
meet every other Sunday from 5-7pm for Bible Study and activities. Any youth
entering 5th grade through High School is welcomed to join us!
In the next month I hope to become involved with BHG and help sing on Sunday
mornings, do more Lamb’s Sermons, and attend as many Bible Studies and
church activates as I can!
Blessings on the coming month,
Katy Wozniak
DCE Intern

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CONTINUING/COMING IN AUGUST 2013…
We conduct our worship services at 9 AM (Contemporary) and 10:30
AM (Traditional). Adult Bible Classes on Sunday are offered at 8 AM
and 9:15 AM. Sunday School for nursery/preschool age children
through age 12 is on “vacation” until September 8!
REVITALIZATION
We continue to receive donations to the “Revitalization Fund” established to raise
monies to offset the expenses of calling a DCE/Family Life Minister-Intern, to us
this summer 2013. You may recall that our stewardship program 2011 involved
these items…Financial Growth by Three Means: (1) Commitment to tithing, (2)
Increased contribution in 2013, and (3) Specific pledge to the Revitalization fund.
MUSICIANS/SINGERS
“By His Grace,” our contemporary service worship leaders are
seeking out more instrumentalists and singers to accent their ministry. In the meantime, Bill and Jenny on guitar and Denise on
keyboard as instrumentalists are the core along with Clydene,
Jenny and Bill as vocalists! Our DCE Intern, Katy, will join the
group as often as possible. Do you know someone, maybe you, who could join
along? Let Bill Rosenberry or pastor know.
LITTLE BACK PACKS
The donations of nutritional snacks and drinks were very much appreciated by students at Schnell School! This ministry is complete
until the fall school months! Your generosity was outstanding! Thank
you very much!
BLOOD SOURCE SUNDAY
We had 21 successful donations from 22 volunteers! Thank you very much! We
will have future Blood Mobile Sundays!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
September 8: Sunday School Resumes and “Food for the Poor” guest
speaker, Rev. John Buuck!
September 29: Guest Pastor: Rev. John Herrmann

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GIDEON’S BIBLE SOCIETY OFFERING
On July 14, our Gideon’s International annual offering, following Bryan’s inspirational message, netted $689! Thank you
very much! Many people will be reached with the written Word
of God because of your generosity and the Lord’s blessing!
VISITATION THANK YOUS
Several ladies of First Lutheran have taken the initiative to
visit our First Lutheran members who are residents at the
Gold Country complex of facilities! Many thanks to Jenny
Yanick, Carol Schultz, and Kathy Tong who have already visited, and Marcia Swift and Katy Wozniak who will be starting
this month! These are “angels” for us!

LWML CARD OF THANKS!
Dear First LWMLJust a really huge Thank You for affording me the opportunity to represent all of
you at my first National LWML Convention!
Pittsburgh was so beautiful – green was everywhere and more bridges than Venice. The whole convention was more inspirational than you can imagine!
Danke schoen!
Love,
Sherry Clifton

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10

Evangelism Message for August 2013
The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy serving Him forever. A most important task of each
believer is to bear witness to their neighbors, with Christian love and His message.
The italicized text above which is a paraphrase of 1 Cor.10:31 et al appears in the Introduction chapter of Desiring God, by John Piper. It has been a powerful reminder to me of my purpose for many
years. The message captured my attention again this morning as I scanned that book among four of
the many great Christian books in our home library. The additional three I chose are by C.S. Lewis,
Bonhoeffer, and A. Stanley; alongside my Hebrew – Greek Bible. During this study I concluded the
following: as a Christian considers allocation of personal time and effort to missionary outreach he or
she may experience tension between unselfishness and love: Unselfishness primarily as one allocates
time being virtuous toward others: Love (of both God and neighbor) as one is reaching out to
neighbors one experiences the joy of serving God.
The Gospel of John states that his calling and that of the other disciples was to “bear witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God”. “Jesus was in the world …... ministering.” “As many as received
Christ received the right to become children of God.” John 1:6-12. Scripture also describe a time, after Christ's crucifixion, at Pentecost, the assembled crowd asked Peter and the other disciples “What
shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ,
for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for
you and your children, and for all who are afar off – whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39.
These scriptures present a message for each follower of Christ to bear witness to unsaved neighbors.
We prepare for our mission of outreach to our neighbors by planning the activity into our weekly/
monthly schedule. Should the neighbor be an unchurched person, over time as our Christian values
are noted by the neighbor, they may appeal and the Holy Spirit may awaken the person to examine
Christianity. Then our missionary effort moves forward as we respond to questions asked by the
unchurched person. Each journey has eventually proven worthy of the time and effort. As we read in
Matt. 7:14, “... the gate is small and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few”.
We are reminded in Acts that conversion is a gift of God. Viz. “God has granted repentance that leads
to life.” Acts 11:18 We cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ Our Lord or
come to Him but the Holy Spirit has called us, enlightened us, and sanctified us.
Outreach to Our Neighbors
Lutheran Hour Ministries offers helpful evangelism support, by an excellent team that is presenting
Regional Outreach Conferences (ROC) across the USA. I attended the one in Sacramento; so did
Ken Freese and Pastor. I remain in contact with their leaders and speakers. One is Rev. Greg Finke,
who is resides in Texas where he initiated a great Neighborhood Outreach ministry. Periodically I
receive email messages from him, in which he shares his messages to Pastors in Texas interested in
his activities. A key element of his message is “Jesus intends for us (each believer) to join the Holy
Spirit in Outreach just as Jesus disciples joined Him in Outreach ministry.
The Anti-Christian forces at work in our nation will soon completely remove our religious freedom if
we do not rise to the challenge before us.
FYI: Any member interested in a brief On-line Course helpful in overcoming uneasiness with reaching out to unchurched neighbors may access Lutheran Hour Ministries on-line course:
(Here is the link http://www.whatsmissionu.com/course_mu101.asp )
Harold Williams

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES UPDATE AUGUST 2013
In an attempt to keep the congregation informed of activities conducted by
the Board of Trustees, the governing group elected to conduct the day-today business of the congregation as adopted by the Voters Assembly, the
Board has placed quarterly updates in the “First News.” This update covers the months of April-July 2013.
The vision statement of the congregation is “First for Others” following
the acronym: OTHERS, referring to Outreach to the community, Teaching
God’s Word, Harvest focused, Evangelize by specific need, Relevant worship and prayer, and Strengthened by God’s Sacraments. The “outcome
goals” developed in 2009 as part of our “revitalization” process are numbered but not necessarily prioritized as objectives to achieve the vision
statement. Copies of these goals are on the website, www.first4others.org,
and can also be obtained from the church office.
Stephen Minister continuing education and peer supervision is in full
swing. Classes are scheduled into mid-December. We continue to look for
referrals from you for folks who may be assisted by a Stephen Minister.
We now have a fully functioning carillon system. This was purchased and
installed above the church offices as a substitute Memorial to the Bell
Tower originally planned.
The Revitalization Fund, which currently accumulates donations to offset
expenses for our DCE Intern, Katy Wozniak, continues even as we begin
to access funds from the budget for Katy’s support!
Our Sunday school has grown to three classes, 18 children, with eight
women of the congregation who lead the classes. It is currently on vacation until September 8.
Our budget review of income and expenses to date shows us to be
healthy. We will need to maintain and expand our resources to continue in
this positive trend.
We hope that you have been visiting our website for information, updates,
sermons, newsletters and calendar changes. A lot of time and energy
have been utilized to keep it modern and useful!

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The Board has taken on four aspects of the “Outcome Goals” and will be
adding project management principles to further address our Vision Statement. Opportunities in financial management, parenting, marriage enrichment, and a men’s Bible study and retreat. The May 2013 Voters Assembly adopted an Endowment Fund. The Dave Ramsey Financial Peace
University will be offered to the congregation and community in January
2014.
The May Voters Assembly elected Ken Freese and Laurie Hertzberg to
the Board of Trustees for two year terms. We thank Melissa Opsahl and
John Brady for the service the previous two years. Larry Hermone, Tom
Hayhurst and Donna Kemppainen continue with the Board.
Katy Wozniak, DCE Intern, was placed with us in late April and arrived in
Placerville on June 30. She was inducted to her office on July 7, 2013 and
will serve us until the same time in 2014. A decision for her to continue beyond that point will need to be made prior to February 1, 2014.
In the area of missionary support, the Board authorized the resumption of
$100 per month to the Sending Place and the beginning of $100 per
month to Youth for Christ Missionaries to Cyprus, Brandon and Angie
Johnson.
After a review of salary for Cindy Flaherty, choral director, her monetary
support was reestablished at $6000 per year, prorated in 2013. It will be
fully restored in 2014.
At the May 2013 Voters Assembly meeting we revisited the Nomadic Winter Shelter, which has asked for our congregation’s assistance via a variety of options: cash for clothing, sleeping bags, donations of cash for
gasoline, personnel to man the shelter, support staffing at the Mercy Way
Rescue that had begun, and/or provide space for shelter, once a week
during the winter months. This was also presented to the December 2012
Voters Assembly. Your input is valuable. Please contact pastor or Board
President, Larry Hermone, to voice your thoughts pro or con. We will continue to revisit this opportunity at the fall 2013 Voters Assembly meeting.
Those attending the May 2013 Voters Assembly meeting heard a proposal
from AT&T for placement of a cell tower on our property. The Voters authorized the Board to negotiate the viability of such a placement. After six
weeks of input from congregation and community members, as well as site
visits from AT&T and its representatives, the Board decided to decline the
cell tower as not in accordance with our vision statement.
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Athen’s VBS

The favorite snack was the ‘octopus’!

Bill Swift wore a purple “dress”

Pottery Studio in Athens was a popular craft

Six men from our congregation were in
Athen’s mentoring our VBS children! (Larry
Adloff not pictured)..

We had 22 children attend all 5 days, one child
attended four days and one joined us on the
last day. Nine children were from outside our
church.
There were 26 volunteers that came and went
during the week; six of those were men! We had
Greek names and a whole lot of fun! Thank you
for your support…!
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August
Birthdays

August
Anniversaries

2

Dorothy Wilson

4

Maureen Johannessen

6

Marion Quate

7

Sara Jane Karlen

10

Eric Humenick

12

Larry Adloff

8/25/1973 Tim and Lana Daly

15

Nicholas Fish

8/25/1988 Martin and Kathy Templeton

16

Vi Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donnell

8/2/1958

Tom and Marcia Davis

8/9/1952

Gene and Peggy Dammel

8/21/1976 Joe and Barbara Calvo

Millie Stressenger
20

Carl Dreves
Cadence Ford

23

Jean Liddell

26

Anita Turner

28

Lori Jarvis

Happy Anniversary

John Buethe
29

Kent Jones

Stephen Ministry
CONFIDENTIAL! That is what Stephen Ministry is. Everything a person tells his or her Stephen Minister is kept in strict
confidence. People are often afraid that if they tell someone
what is troubling them, word will get around and others will
look down on them. But a Stephen Minister keeps everything a
care receiver shares confidential, and through this sharing God
works miracles of healing and peace. Remember if you or someone you know
would like or might benefit from a Stephen Minister, contact Pastor Mark, Judy
Bryld (303-3388) or one of our Stephen Ministers. God bless you all and God
bless our Stephen Ministry.
15

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sunday School
Sunday school for the children begins next
month on September 8th. We will resume
with the three classes; pre-school to K, 1st
thru 4th, and 5th and up.
Scrip money from Raley’s, Safeway, and SaveMart helps us to
have a great program for our
children.
If you don’t have a scrip card please contact the church office and
we’ll let you know how you
can get one.
If you have one, please be sure to use it
each time you shop.
If you have a Raley’s card
and you aren’t sure whether
or not it is registered to us,
please contact the church office and we’ll
check it out!
We received a check from SaveMart this
week for $164.15! It all adds up!

THANK YOU
I would like to extend a “thank you” to the
First Lutheran members for your cards of
support and good wishes during my recent
hospitalizations. Your thoughts and prayers
are appreciated more than you can ever
know.
Thank you and God bless,
Warren Bryld
Don’t forget to get your discount when you
shop at Home Depot. It is the “Pro Rewards”
program. All you have to do is input the
church’s phone number or tell the cashier you
want the “Pro Rewards”. Our phone number is 530 6223022. The more we buy the larger our discount is. We
are up to a little over 3%. We all get the discount!

Women’s Retreat
October 5, 2013
9:30 am to 3 pm
Confident Grace
The local schools will be starting
back very soon now. When you see
the “Education Box Tops” be sure
to cut them out and bring them to
church. There is a jar in the Narthex for
them. Once it gets full it will be taken to
Schnell School.
These even come on some clothing items, so watch for them!